The Hockey News's annual yearbook succumbs to ratings games in Red Wings-related discussions

The Detroit Examiner's Mike Mouat got a sneak peek at The Hockey News's 2009-2010 season yearbook, and he reveals that the Red Wings received substantial coverage in the annual publication:

August 18, Detroit Examiner: Senior writer Ken Campbell wrote a great piece on Chris Osgood titled "Wing Man", with plenty of insight from Osgood and Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

Campbell's story ranges from how the friendship between Osgood and Holland began, what happened last season, why Holland is Osgood's biggest supporter as well as whether Osgood belongs on Team Canada in the 2010 Olympics and his place among the all-time greats.

Five Red Wings also received mentions in THN's Top 50 NHL'er list:

The Red Wings have three players listed in the top 10 and five in the top 50. Pavel Datsyuk maintains his position from a year ago at number four, Henrik Zetterberg tumbles from third last year to number nine and Nicklas Lidstrom falls three spots to #10. New to the list this year are Niklas Kronwall at #45 and Johan Franzen at #49. Brian Rafalski, despite setting career highs in assists (49) and points (59) went from 27th a year ago to not ranked this year.

I have no idea why Rafalski's tremendous play receives so little fanfare. None.

And then comes The Hockey News's annual stupidity regarding the Red Wings as washed up, due for a fall, etc. etc.:

Campbell identifies seven potential defenseman to assume the mantle of the NHL's best defenseman held for the past decade by Red Wings' defenseman Lidstrom. Campbell assumes that at age 39 and in the final year of his contract Lidstrom is done winning Norris Trophies, but doesn't conclude that there is necessarily anyone ready to take Lidstrom's spot. The defenseman identified are last year's Norris trophy winner Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, Mike Green last year's runner-up from Washington, Andrei Markov from the Montreal Canadiens, Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks, Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames, and Jay Bouwmeester also of the Flames. I expect that fans will recognize how good Bouwmeester is now that he will receive greater exposure in Calgary.
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According to THN the Red Wings could finish anywhere between first and seventh in the Western Conference depending on a couple of scenarios. If the young forwards brought in to replace the departed Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler and Tomas Kopecky don't find a modest scoring touch the Red Wings could finish as low as seventh. But, first place is still a possibility if Osgood plays like he did during the playoffs. Finally THN settles on fourth behind San Jose, Chicago and Vancouver.
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THN concedes that a Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins rematch isn't beyond the realm of possibility but not a likley scenario, and proclaims the Cup will stay in Pennsylvania, just not in Pittsburgh. They pick the Philadelphia Flyers to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference and then rise to the top and win their first Cup in 35 years.

As usual, THN's preview does as much feather-ruffling as anything else. If it were to make sensible predictions and not constantly predict a changing of the guard, they'd end a long, storied tradition of essentially cobbling together controversial suggestions for the sake of selling as many $10 yearbooks as humanly possible. The yearbook's never been one to stick with likely outcomes when there's a literary "ratings game" to work.